Guard attachment for telephones.



No'. 859,479. x PATENTED JULY 9, 1907.

e. L. BLACKBURN.

i v GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR TELBPHONBS.

AP PLIO'ATION nun 14 .1. 1901.

iiilifllllllllll UNITED STATES PATENT osrros.

GEORGE L; BLACKBURN, Of GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN K. CALLAHAN, OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

GUARD ATTAGHIVIENT Fort TELEPHoNEs'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. BLACKBURN, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Greensboro, in

table use and which comprise a suitable base and standard, the latter carrying the transmitter and receiver in the usual way. In'the actual use of telephone stands of this class, the stand is most frequently lifted from its support when the party is using the same, to facilitate conversation over the phone, and it is frequent in placing the stand again upon its support, after using it in the manner mentioned, that papers, books, or similar articles upon the support engage the receiver and cause the receiver hook to operate due to the fact that the receiver accidentally pushed upward. The above causes considerable trouble as the indicator at the central station is accidentally operated when the subscriber does not Want to use the phone. Furthermore the receiver is sometimes held in such a position that the receiver hook is not depressed and the subscribers phone is connected with central when not really being used.

The present invention aims to provide a guard to obviate likelihood of the receiver of the telephone stand being accidentally operated to permit the receiver hook to move upward, when said receiver should be supported upon, and holding the receiver hook depressed. I

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a telephone stand showing the embodiment of the invention in actual use. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing more clearly the connecting means between the clamping band and the guard arm. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of the invention detached.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by thesame reference characters.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the usual telephone stand as commonly employed at the present time, the receiver 2 being supported on the receiver hook S in the customary way; To prevent likelihood of the receiver 2 being forced upwardly in the accidental manner hereinbefore mentioned, the

Specification of. Letters Patent.

Application filed March 7,1907. Serial 115,361,076

Patented July 9, 1907.

guard attachment comprising this invention is used. Said attachment consists mainly of a clamping band 4 composed of pivoted sections pivotally connected at 5 and adapted to embrace the standard 'of the stand 1. The ends of the sections of the band 4 opposite those pivotally connected at 5 are bent outwardly and together comprise an extension 6 composed of course of spaced parts. The extension 6 is directly connected with the guard member of the attachment, which 0011- sists of an arm 7 of somewhat circular form, said member 7 being made from a strip of sheet metal, preferably, the extremities of which extend laterally from the body thereof as shown at 8. The member 7 has the extremities of the lateral portions 8 thereof reduced vertically and received between the spaced elements of the extension 6 of the clamping band 4 and secured thereto by a suitable set screw 9. The member 7 projects laterally from the. stand 1 and extends beneath the receiver 2 to form a rigid stop or arm preventing any objects from accidentally lifting the receiver 2 from the hook 3 or moving said receiver 7 5 by direct upward pressure thereagainst. The receiver, however, may be readily detached in the customary way. c

To make the member 7 rigid with the band 4 the ends of the sections of the band forming the extension 6, have the inner or adjacent faces thereof provided with longitudinal recesses 1.0 in which the reduced extremities 8 of the member 7 are received when the latter is secured to said band 4. The provision of the recesses 10 and the manner of connecting the extremities 8 of the member 7 with the extension 6, establishes virtually an interlocking connection between the parts 4'and 7 by which said parts are rig,- idly attached together and held in horizontal alinement with one another. The member 9 performs the function of a means for securing the band 4 to the stand 1 and the member 7 to said band 4.

The attachment comprising this invention is very simple in its construction and may be readily applied to the various types of telephone stands generally in use, and by reason of itssimplicity, cheapness, and the readiness with which it may be attached, constitutes a very desirable and useful device for the purpose described.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawing it will be noted that the lateral portions 8 are formed with elongated openings or slots 8 through which the adjusting member or set-screw 9 passes. The provision of the slots 8 admits of lateral adjustment of the members 7 relatively to the member 4, and this is advantageous as it permits of use of the invention upon telephone stands of different types, for co-operation with the receiver.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

,1. In combination, a telephone stand embodying the usual vertical standard, a receiver hook, a receiver supported on said hook, and an attachment consisting of a clamping band embracing the standard aforesaid and having its ends projecting laterally and forming spaced elevments of an offstanding extension, a guard member comprising an approximately circular body arranged beneath the lower end of the receiver and including an ofifstanding member having an interlocking connection with the extension of the band aforesaid, and a fastening connecting the guardniember and the band together.

2. As an article of manufacture, an attachment for tel ephone stands consisting of a band composed of pivotally connected sections the free ends of which are bent out \vardly and form spaced elements of an extension of said band, a guard member comprising an approximately circle lar body consisting of a strip of sheet metal having its end portions extended outwardly and received between the spaced elements of the extension of the band, the inner or adjacent faces of the spaced elements of the aforesaid extension being formed with recesses receiving the extremities of the guard member, whereby an interlocking connection is established between these parts, and a fastening passing through the extension of the band and the extremities of the guard member and securing these parts together in the manner specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. BLACKBURN.

Witnesses J. C. WRIGHT, BERNARD M. CONE. 

